File cabinet drawer handle



March 20, 1956 H. H. MOORE FILE CABINET DRAWER HANDLE Filed Dec. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

March 20, 1956 MQORE 2,739,026

FILE CABINET DRAWER HANDLE Filed Dec. 19, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 2,739,026 FILE CABINET DRAWER I Henry Moore, Austin, Tex. Application December 19, 1952, Serial No. 326,921 v Claims. (c1. 312-320) This invention relates to a file cabinet. The, invention is particularly useful in connection with drawers I which may be withdrawn from either side'of the. cabinet and from the cabinet entirely and'also with cabinet handles equipped with index cards or stripsl.

In a cabinet having'drawers which may be opened from opposite sides, it is important that the drawer have sufficient frictional resistance to prevent it from moving entirely out of the cabinet compartment and thus spilling files on the floor, while at .the same time an important purpose is served if the drawer may be drawn outwardly or entirely removed from the compartment. Further, in connection with a cabinet which has a-large number of drawers extending from an elevated point down to a point near the floor, it is importantthat the secretary or other person using the drawer be able to read the index strips or cards on each of thedrawers Without moving from her chain, It the index cards are supported in a vertical angle on all of the.dr awers, it is V extremely difficult for the secretary to: readthe cards indexing the various drawers without bendingfover sharply to read the lower cards. There has lorig been a needfor a cabinet structure in which cards are, supported at different angles so that they may be read readily by one sitting in a chair while at the same time "enabling people on opposite sides of the cabinet to withdraw drawers from either side. In the handling of forms such 'as insurance forms, legal forms, ruled ofiice forms and a wide variety of forms and other papers used in business, it is possible to have but one set of forms for severalpersons seated about the cabinet and any one of the forms may be removed for use by. oneperson on the side of the cabinet where he or she is seated so that the forms may be removed to a desk and then the entire drawer replaced in the cabinet.

An object of the invention is to provide-a cabinet structure as described above, satisfying the requirements Figurel is a side view in elevation of a cabinet structure embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a plan sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional detail view, the .section bethe members being shown in separated relation; Fig. 6, v

a broken perspective view of a modified fo'rmof handle and index slip supporting device; Fig; 7, a sectional view, the section beingtaken as indicated at line 77 of Fig. 6; and Fig. 8, a developed view of the handle structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7. i a

In the illustrationgiven, 10 indicates a cabinet which may be of any suitable construction. The cabinet may be formed of spaced members forming compartments so that the cabinet may be increased in height by adding separate parts. If desired, the cabinet may have a single housing in whichare mounted drawers, as illustrated. It will be understood that anysuitable cabinet may be employed in connection with the invention.

In the specific illustration given, I provide a housing or casing 11 mounted upon a base 12, the front and rear sides of the casing being closed and the ends of the casing being open. Inside of the case there are provided spaced supports for a. drawer. As seen more clearly in Fig. 3, side brackets or runners 13 may be pro vided for supporting the sides ofa drawer 14 and a central runner 15 may ,be provided for supporting the central portion of the drawer 14. V l The drawer 14 may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, I provide a metal file drawer having sides 16 adapted to receive'forms or other documents. To facilitate removal of the documents, the drawer bottom may be provided with an opening 17. By reason of the friction of the drawer'against members 13 and 15, there is no tendency for the drawer, when pushed, to slide out of the other end of the cabinet. However, the drawer 14 may be readily withdrawn from either end of the cabinet when it is desired to Withdraw it, and,th'e drawer and its contents may be removed to as to visibility of all the index cards in a cabinet viewed from a single position, while also enabling the user to withdraw a drawer from either side of the cabinet. A further object is to provide intsuch a structure frictional supports for the drawers so that they will not be pushed out of the compartments in which they are housed through carelessness in the use thereof, while at the same time the drawers may be readily withdrawn for use on a table, desk, etc. Yet another object is to provide in a'cabinet structure in which vertical drawers are supported with index or identifying strips thereon, a structure whereby such index cards may be filed at dilferent angles to render them readily visible by one sitting in a chair near the cabinet. vide, in combination with a handle structure, means for supporting said index cards at different angles while at the same time providing a handle for the removal of the drawers. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which- A still further object is to proa table, desk, or other place for the removed documents, etc.

Each drawer 14 is provided at each end with a handle structure which also provides a means for supporting index cards. In the illustration given, a bracket member 18 is provided with a rear flange 19 which may be spot welded, as indicated at 20, to the front wall 16 of the drawer 14, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4. The bracket 18 is provided at its top forward end with an opening 21 adapted to receive a fastener hinge rod 22. The bracket 18 is provided near its bottom with a pair of oppositely-disposedopenings 23, through which may be extended bolts 24 provided with nuts 25. A handle portion 26 adapted to form with the bracket 18 a complete handle, is provided at its top with a pair of openings 27 adapted to receive the hange pin 22.

and is provided with an arcuate slot 28. When the handle member 26 is pivotally mounted upon the bracket.

drawing the drawer in one direction or the other- The l The han- I dle portion 26 has a flared side extending. downwardly When the handle part 26 is provided at its front with a raised card holder 29 for receiving the index card or other insigniabearing device. By this means, the handle part 26 upon a drawer. at the bottom of the cabinet may be swung well outwardly and locked in this position so. as to cause the index card to be directed toward the eye of the secretary seated in a chair nearby, as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 1. The topmost drawer will have the part 26 adjusted to substantially a vertical position so that it may bercadily seen by the secretary or file clerk.

As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 1, the handle parts 26 are all positioned at different angles so that they may be quickly seen by one seated nearby without having to bend over in trying to decipher the cards near the bottom of the cabinet. Furthermore, in removing the drawer from the lower position in the cabinet, it is found that where the handle part 26 is swung outwardly at the angle indicated in Fig. 1, it is easier to remove and lift the drawer from the cabinet and to carry it to a desired point, while, when the handle part 26 is substantially vertical, as on the uppermost of the drawers, removal is easier when such handle is substantially vertical.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the drawer may be drawn from either side of the cabinet forward to a selected position, the friction between the drawer and the supporting parts causing it to move only as far as it is drawn. If needed, the drawer will be removed entirely from the compartment, and from either end thereof, and then eventually returned.

The handle parts may be arranged at any desired angle so that'the index cards on the forward end of the handle may be readily read from any single position adjacent thereto, the adjusted angle of the part 26 facilitating the removal of the drawer, as above set forth. If desired, the handle and the index card support may be formed of different parts and arranged and secured in separated relation onthe front wall 16 of each drawer 14. I prefer, however, to provide the two-piece handle structure, which not only makes it more convenient to grasp and lift out the lower drawers, but also supports the index cards in readily visible positions. It will be understood that the handle and index support part thereof may be utilized with ordinary drawers which may be drawn outwardly from but one direction in the cabinet.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the handle member 30 is provided at each end with an angular side wall 31 having a laterally-turned flange 32 which may be spotwelded at 33 to the drawer 34. The front flange 35 is provided at its upper and lower ends with v folded-over flanges 36 which are open at their ends and permit the insertion of an index slip or cardon which information is stated with respect to the contents of the drawer to which the handle 30 is secured. The forwardly-turned wall 35 thus provides a handle for manipulating the drawer, while at the same time this plate surface enclosed with the turned flanges 36 provides a support for the information slips which may be readily read by one sitting in a chair nearby.

If desired, the support for the drawer may be provided with an indentation receiving a bulged portion of the drawer for stopping the drawer at a desired point. In the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the

member 11 is shown provided with a sunken portion 37 and the drawer above is provided with a downwardlybulged projection 38, asshown more clearly in Fig. 4, to aid the user in locating the drawer in a desired closed position.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a single structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with the'end of a drawer, a bracket supported thereon and a sign-supporting member tiltably mounted upon said bracket for selective angular adjustment, means for securing said member in different angular positions upon said bracket, and a holder member secured to said first-mentioned member for supporting an indicia-bearing. strip upon said first-mentioned member, said member and bracket forming together a handle for the drawer. p

2. In combination with the end of a drawer adapted for use in a cabinet having a plurality of drawers arranged one above another, a sign-supporting member, means for supporting said member upon said end for selective angular adjustment relative thereto, means for securing said member in selected angular positions, and a holder secured to said member for supporting an indicia strip, said member and first mentioned means forming together a handle for the drawer.

3. In a cabinet structure having a plurality of drawers arranged one above another, a bracket for each of said drawers and being supported upon an end wall thereof, a sign-supporting member tiltably mounted upon said bracket for selective angular adjustment relative thereto, means for securing said member in different angular positions upon said bracket, and a holder member secured to said firstmentioned member for supporting an indicia strip thereon, said first mentioned member and bracket forming together a handle for the drawer.

4. In 'a cabinet structure having a plurality of drawers arranged one above another, a handle for each of said drawers, each of said handles being tiltably mounted respectively upon the end wall of one of said drawers for selective angular adjustment relative thereto, means for releasably securing said handles in selected angular positions, and a holder member carried by each of said handles for supporting an indicia-bearing strip at an angle determined by the selected angular position of its handle.

5. In combination with the end wall of a drawer, a handle, means carried by said end wall for tiltably supporting said handle thereon for selected angular adjustment relative thereto, and means for releasably securing said handle in selected angular positions, said handle being equipped with means for carrying indicia strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cushing m.-. Nov. 30, 1943 

